Product Name: Cobalt Compound for Polyethylene Paint
Chemical Family: Transition Metal Compound
Formula: Variable, commonly as Cobalt(II) Octoate or Cobalt Naphthenate
Manufacturer: [Manufacturer information]
Contact Information: [Address, Emergency Phone Number]
Use: Paint drier for polyethylene paint formulations
Hazard Classification: Acute Toxicity Category 4 (oral, inhalation), Skin Sensitizer Category 1, Carcinogenicity Category 2
Signal Word: Warning
Hazard Statements: Harmful if swallowed. Suspected of causing cancer. May cause an allergic skin reaction. Harmful if inhaled. Causes eye and skin irritation.
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing dust, fumes, or spray. Wear protective gear. Wash exposed skin thoroughly after handling. Use only outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.
Symptoms of Exposure: Skin redness, itching, coughing, nausea, headaches, respiratory irritation
Cobalt Content: 5% to 12% (as metal by weight, varies by product)
Other Components: Carrier solvent (often aliphatic hydrocarbons or mineral spirits, up to 90%), auxiliary agents
Impurities: Minor hydrocarbon impurities, trace transition metals
CAS Numbers: Cobalt(II) 74-79-3, Naphthenic Acids 1338-24-5, Solvent 64742-47-8
Eye Contact: Rinse immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, remove contact lenses, keep the eyelids open.
Skin Contact: Take off contaminated clothing, flush skin with large amounts of soap and water.
Inhalation: Move affected person to fresh air, give artificial respiration if not breathing, seek medical assistance.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, rinse mouth thoroughly, seek medical advice right away.
Note to Physician: Treat symptomatically, monitor for allergic response and respiratory distress.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical, CO2, or foam. Avoid high-pressure water streams.
Specific Hazards: Combustion produces toxic fumes, including oxides of cobalt, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.
Protective Equipment: Wear full protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus.
Firefighting Advice: Remove containers from fire area if safe, control runoff to prevent environmental contamination.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate area, ventilate, put on gloves, goggles, and mask.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent spill from entering drains, soil, or waterways.
Methods for Cleaning Up: Absorb with sand or inert material, shovel into suitable container for disposal, wash area with detergent and water.
Spill Response: Notify safety personnel, avoid raising dust or aerosols, dispose of cleanup materials as hazardous waste.
Handling Notes: Handle in a well-ventilated place, avoid inhaling dust or fumes, do not eat, drink, or smoke around this product.
Storage Conditions: Store in tightly closed container, protected from moisture and heat sources, keep away from incompatible materials like strong acids or oxidizers.
Storage Temperature: Maintain below 35°C, store away from sunlight and ignition sources.
Other Precautions: Label containers clearly, regular checks for leaks and container integrity, segregate from food and feedstuffs.
Occupational Limit Values: Cobalt exposure limit (as inhalable fraction) 0.02 mg/m³ (OSHA/ACGIH recommended)
Engineering Controls: Use with local exhaust ventilation, process enclosure recommended for dust-producing processes.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Wear chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, long-sleeved clothing, and approved respirators if airborne concentrations exceed limits.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands and face after working with cobalt, do not reuse contaminated clothing without laundering.
Appearance: Deep blue to violet liquid (if as a drier solution), powder or flakes (if pure cobalt compound)
Odor: Hydrocarbon-like (as paint drier solution)
Boiling Point: Often above 140°C (for drier solutions), pure cobalt salt decomposes before boiling
Melting Point: Pure cobalt melts at 1,495°C, compounds lower
Solubility: Insoluble in water, soluble in many organic solvents
Vapor Pressure: Low at 20°C
Density: Usually between 0.85–1.1 g/cm³ (for solution form)
pH: Typically neutral to slightly acidic, varies by formulation
Chemical Stability: Stable under normal conditions, sensitive to extreme heat or strong oxidizers
Conditions to Avoid: Open flames, sparks, direct sunlight, incompatible chemicals
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids, oxidizing agents, strong bases
Hazardous Decomposition: Cobalt oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide may form on burning
Polymerization: Does not occur
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin and eye contact, accidental ingestion
Acute Toxicity: LD50 (Oral, Rat): ~5 mg/kg (cobalt compound)
Chronic Effects: Prolonged exposure increases risk of developing occupational asthma, dermatitis, nasal polyps, potential for carcinogenic effects with long-term exposure
Sensitization: May induce skin sensitization or allergic response
Reproductive Effects: Animal studies show decreased fertility at high doses
Aquatic Toxicity: Toxic to aquatic life, EC50 (Algae, 72 hr): <1 mg/L
Persistence and Degradability: Cobalt persists in soils and water, does not biodegrade quickly
Bioaccumulation: Potential for cobalt to accumulate in aquatic organisms
Mobility in Soil: Low to moderate, depends on soil chemistry
Other Environmental Hazards: Contributes to metal pollution in effluents, improper disposal harms waterways
Waste Handling: Keep waste in clearly labeled, tightly sealed drums, treat as hazardous waste
Disposal Methods: Dispose through approved hazardous waste contractor, follow local, regional, and national regulations
Container Disposal: Triple rinse containers with solvent before recycling or disposal, do not reuse for non-industrial purposes
Avoid: Release to environment, landfill disposal without treatment, incineration without emission controls
UN Number: UN 3077
Proper Shipping Name: Environmentally hazardous substance, solid, n.o.s. (cobalt compound)
Transport Hazard Class: Class 9 (Miscellaneous hazardous)
Packing Group: III
Labels Required: Environmentally hazardous mark, standard Class 9 symbol
Special Precautions: Avoid transport with foodstuffs, keep upright and secure during transit, emergency response information readily available
U.S. Regulations: OSHA hazardous chemical, subject to SARA Title III Section 313, listed in NTP Carcinogens
EU Regulations: Classified as Carc. 2, H351 (suspected of causing cancer), strict workplace controls under REACH
Labelling: GHS07, GHS08 hazard pictograms, warning statements on each container
Other Regulations: Listed on TSCA, Canadian DSL, AICS, Japanese ENCS, and other key inventories
Worker Protection: Mandatory safety training, periodic medical monitoring of exposed workers recommended
